Jaguars must avoid signing these 3 cap casualties in free agency

The Jaguars need cornerback help but should avoid Janoris Jenkins.

Sophomore cornerback C.J. Henderson will surely hold one starting spot in 2021. However, it’s uncertain who’s going to line up opposite of him next season. Sidney Jones, Greg Mabin and D.J. Hayden are all set to hit the open market, and even if the Jaguars bring one of them back, they still need to add talent to their cornerback group this offseason.

No cornerback got slapped with the franchise this offseason and a group that was already ample will be joined by Robert Alford, who the Arizona Cardinals recently released. Although the Cards weren’t in dire need of cap space this offseason, moving on from the veteran cornerback opened up $7.5 million in cap space

Putting aside the cap space Arizona gained, Alford’s release doesn’t come as a surprise as he never appeared in a game for the Cardinals. After signing three-year $22.5 million contract in 2019, the corner broke his leg before the season started. Things didn’t get any better in 2020 and tore his pectoral in the offseason.

A second-round pick in 2013’s draft by the Atlanta Falcons, Alford appeared in 88 games, with 61 starts, logging 303 total tackles (four for a loss), 85 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and ten interceptions over his six-year tenure in A-Town.

Although Alford could be fully healthy in 2021, he will hit the open market with injury red flags. Signing is the kind of high-risk, high-reward move the Jaguars should avoid making this offseason, as there will will be better and more consistent options in the open market.